Cats in Need

I went down to my local PetSmart today to photograph some loving kitties who are in need of forever homes. Cats in Need is the organization in charge and they’re on site every weekend trying to help find the kitties they’re fostering homes.

When I arrived, one of the kitties, a 10 year old Maine Coone-tabby mix, had just been claimed and was preparing to head home with her new owner. Two others had also been claimed that afternoon, leaving me just 4 kitties to photograph.

The images will be featured on PetFinder.com – cats with professional images have a better change of being adopted than those photographed casually.

My job was to make these kitties look like the sweet, loving darlings they are… in the confines of the small adoption area.

First up was Lilly, who was lounging at eye level on the four story cat climber. This little beauty is a medium hair Calico.

Then I met Sinatra, named after the famous “ol blue eyes” himself.  Sinatra is a Siamese/Russian Blue Mix, and he was napping at the very top of the climber, just feet from the top. In fact, my first view of him was just some paws…

I also photographed Snickers, who wasn’t sure what to make of the camera. He liked me well enough until I brought the lens up, taking cuddles and some chin scratchings with pleasure.  But it was probably his first portrait session, and he was out in one of the featured cages, in the noisier area, so I think it was only to be expected.  He’s a tux cat like my Sebastian, and had a good dose of kitten frisk.

Finally, I photographed Sherry, who was hiding at the very bottom of that scratching post… she was such a shy little thing that I nearly missed her entirely! She did not want to leave her hiding place, but when one of her trusted caregivers brought her out and held her, I could see what  pretty kitty she is!